She's a Butte.

Today's Adventure: Butte & Bozeman, MT
(yet another 5-star Adventure brought to you by US Bank)

Helena, Montana

The view from atop Mt. Helena (June 15, 2008)

Tucked along the crooked path where Last Chance Stream once meandered, Helena is the town that gold built, an honor no other modern Montana city can claim. Helena's nineteenth century architecture dazzles, its gold rush history compels, and its arts and culture reflect a richly talented community.

Our twosome arrived in fine fettle in the "Queen City of the Rockies" (as fine a nickname as a city could hope for), though a tad bumpy on the descent. Weather report: "80ish and sunny". So it was off to scale Mt Helena, a short but tough little calf burner up the hill at the edge of town. The reward for a climb well done was a two-hour nap followed by a big plate of beef.

And now for some Helena history. The selection of Helena as the capital of Montana had an inauspicious beginning. A political war between two "Copper Kings" Marcus Daly and William Clark, resulted in massive bribery and vote-buying scandals only a "Copper King" could afford. With Daly backing Anaconda and Clark supporting Helena, it is estimated that in 1894 each man spent almost $3 million to determine which city would become Montana's new capital.

Next up: Bozeman, MT
(another 5-star Adventure brought to you by US Bank)

Move it, Fuzzy Butt.

The seasoned business traveller will often grouse about navigating airport security with less savvy travellers....those with children laden down with milk boxes and metal beads and bangles who look incredulous when asked to toss liquids or wait until they reach the X-ray entry door before it occurs to them to begin to remove their chain mail.

One would think that a nice, small, rural airport like Helena would be free of such line chokers. Not so, they simply come in a different variety. Like the gentleman who took fully 10 minutes to empty his pockets, all the while chatting amiably with the TSA agent who seemed completely at ease in letting this 'slower then tree sap' rube back up the line.

Ms Foo, always looking for mischief, took this as an indication that things must just be a bit more laid back in MT, and that no one was in a hurry to make the two flights a day that service this burg. So she, taking her cue from the previous cowboy begins the long, labored process of disencumbering herself of the assorted detritus that only a bunny can stash on their furry frame.

'La, la, la, la...butterflies' she sing-songed til she turned around and saw impatient Bob standing behind her...

Helena by way of Seatac via Great Falls.

(The Foo has landed).

Montana: be forewarned—Foo is on the way.

(Montana. It's everything Colorado thinks it is.)